'Top Chef's' Fatima Ali Has Officially Been Declared Cancer Free

Back in January, Top Chefseason 15 contestant Fatima Ali revealed that she would be undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in her shoulder. At the time of her surgery, one of the show’s judges, Padma Lakshmi, visited the hospital to support Ali. The 28-year-old chef was diagnosed with a condition called Ewing’s sarcoma in the fall on 2016. The cancer was successfully removed, and Ali has officially been declared cancer free. Last night, she announced that she would be making her first appearance after her ordeal, at the Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival.

In an Instagram post, Ali wrote that although her treatment is still ongoing, she will be attending the Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival, which takes place from April 5 to 8, in Pebble Beach, California. Although Ali wrote that she’s both “excited and nervous” to return to cooking, she couldn’t stay out of the kitchen any longer. Ali will be participating in an event called Goldilocks and the Three Top Chef Bears, alongside Elizabeth Falkner, Tyler Anderson, and Bruce Kalman (all three are her fellow Top Chef alums, with Falkner having appeared on Top Chef Masters).

Alex Gaurnaschelli, Ludo Lefebvre, Angie Mar (one of Food & Wine’s 2017 Best New Chefs) and Jeremiah Tower will also host events at the festival. Caviar and champagne tastings, showcases featuring Hawaiian cuisine, tacos and grilling, a handmade pasta demonstration, and even a celebrity chef golf tournament are also among the some of the festival’s most anticipated events.

A private dinner with Alex Gaurnaschelli is already sold out, but Jeremiah Tower is hosting a dinner of his own. If you can’t make it to those private events, you can still experience the Grand Tasting, which will feature 300 wines, appearances by 30 celebrity chefs, and book signings.

With the addition of Ali’s return to the cooking stage, Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival will be one of the spring’s most exciting food-themed events.